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Meet the board

Linda Roos

Chairperson

Linda Roos currently serves as Head of Human Resources for the ooba Group of companies. Prior to joining ooba, Linda headed Organisational Development, Human Resources and Social Investment, respectively, for the Petousis Hotel Group and served as Chairman of the group’s social investment initiative, Our Kids of The Cape. Linda has worked in various industries, including advertising, marketing, financial services, ICT and hospitality. Linda previously served as a director of the South African Organisational Development Network’s board as custodian of the Communications portfolio.

Sofia Neves

Board Member

Sofia Neves is the Salesian Life Choices Managing Director. In 2005, she helped the Salesians to establish the organisation. She holds an Honours Degree in Animal Science and a Masters Degree in Marketing & Communication with Rome Business School. Ms. Neves joined the development field in 2001 in an OVC programme in Mozambique and has since gathered a vast experience in the non-profit sector across various disciplines, in several African countries.

Lerato Raboti

Board Member

Lerato Raboti is currently a student at the University of Cape Town, studying Politics and Philosophy. He joined Life Choices when he was in Grade 11 as part of the Leaders’ quest programme. He was motivated to join the board because he wants to make a lasting positive change to his community.

Di Charton

Board Member

Diane Charton has held managing director roles at both the Red & Yellow School of Marketing as well as Acceleration Media Digital Marketing Agency. She has shifted her focus to a "life of purpose", giving back to the industry through the lecturing role she currently holds. With a unique combination of marketing, leadership and engineering experience, Charton brings a multifaceted approach to using marketing trends and insights to innovate and empower the industry as a whole.

Charton is frequently quoted in South African media and invited to speak at conferences because of her ability to bring insight and illumination to the latest trends and technologies in the world of traditional and digital marketing communication.

Danilo Acquisto

Vice Chairperson

Danilo Acquisto is a Television (SABC3’s Afternoon Express) and Radio (Good Hope FM) Personality. In 2012 he graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA in Law and Sociology. He is currently starting his second company. He is an active member in his church and chairs youth matters in the Western Cape through the Youth Chaplaincy. In 2013 he joined Life Choices as a mentor and has subsequently returned to do some talks on personal branding.

Thembalethu Seyisi

Board Member

Thembalethu is a Leaders' Quest Alumnus and was the Head Prefect at Oaklands High in 2017. He is currently studying at Stellenbosch University for a LLB. He is an Active member of YALI Network and is part of the team lead by Professor Thuli Madonsela to develop the M-Plan for Social Justice. Thembalethu’s personal mission is to eradicate poverty, social injustice and structural inequality in South Africa.

Marco Spaumer

Secretary

Marco Spaumer is a South African actor, best known for his work on the KykNET-soap opera, Suidooster. He studied Musical Theatre in Pretoria and have been on South African screens since late 2012. He joined Life Choices in 2017 and have been actively serving on the board as secretary as well as cycling/hiking to raise funds for the organization. He is passionate about social justice and using his profile and platform to create awareness for those who are still and very often marginalized.

Gavin Thompson

Board Member

Gavin is an accomplished business professional with over 25 years of management consulting, project management and IT experience. He has successfully managed many large - scale, complex business and IT projects. Given his blend of business and IT experience, he has a deep understanding of how technology can be best used as a supporting enabler to business success. He is passionate about instilling the cultures of operational excellence, client centricity, quality, and servant leadership in organisations.